Machine for packing bottles with relatively small objects



March 4, 1952 R. AL'rHoFF MACHINE FOR PACKING BOTTLES WITH RELATIVELY SMALL OBJECTS 11 sheets-sheet 1 Filed April 26, 1949 -INVENTOR.

March 4, 1952 R. ALTI-IOFF MACHINE FOR PACKING BOTTLES WITH RELATIVELY SMALL vOBJECTS 11 sheets-sheet 2 Filed April 26, 1949 IN V EN TOR. /Pa ynjancl /afzf March 4, 1952 R. ALTHOFF MACHINE FOR PACKING BOTTLES WITH RELATIVELY SMALL OBJECTS ll Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 26, 1949 N MHrr W M@ m pw( March 4, 1952 R. ',AL'rHoFF MACHINE FOR PACKING BOTTLES WITH RELATIVELY SMALL OBJECTS 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 26, 1949 QE v . NNN

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MACHINE FOR PACKING BOTTLES WITH RELATIVELY SMALL OBJECTS Filed April 26, 1949 11 sheets-sheet 7 41% rn ey March 4, 1952 R. ALTHoFF MACHINE FOR PACKING BOTTLES WITH RELATIVELY SMALL OBJECTS 11 Sheets-v-Sheet 8 Filed April 26, 1949 IN VEN TOR. xfqymm/ #wa/,f

R. ALTHOFF MACHINE FOR PACKING BOTTLES WITH RELATIVELY SMALL OBJECTS March 4, 1952 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed April 26, 1949 INI/ENTOR.

an a/ BY jm MalCh 4, 1952 R. ALTHoFF MACHINE FOR PACKING BOTTLES WITH RELATIVELY SMALL OBJECTS 11 sheets-sheet 1o Filed April 26, 1949 0 QWN mm AY mwN .March 4, 1952 R. ALTHOFF MACHINE FOR PACKING BOTTLES WITH RELATIVELY SMALL OBJECTS l1 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed April 26, 1949 NVENTOR. Pay/mand /7% a/7( ifa/w: y

Patented Mar. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR PACKING BOTTLES WITH RELATIVELY SMALL OBJECTS Intaymond Althoff, Somerville, N. J. Application April 26, 1949, Serial N o. 89,663

i (C1. 22e-16) material. One application of the machine is tor packing bottles with objects such as pickles and olives. The desideratum is to produce a uniform arrangement of the objects wtihin the bottle which will be pleasing and attractive to the eye of the customer. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the machine is particularly adapted to packing olives, especially olives of the pimento type, placing the olives radially within the bottle with the pimento end outermost,to` present a co1- orful and pleasing appearance. Heretofore this has been done by hand. One objective of the in.-

stant invention is to perform this Work eiciently and rapidly by machine, thereby dispensing with a. large part of the hand labor and reducing the cost of the product to the consumer.,

The invention will be fully understood from the following description read in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a end view of a preferred embodiment of the machine of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the showing in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the showing in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detailed cross-section through part of the construction shown in Fig. 2 on the plane indicated by 4 4;

Fig. 5 is a view of the construction shown in Fig. 4 on the plane indicated by 5 5;

Fig. 6 is a side View of one element of the construction shown in Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 7 is a section through part of the construction shown in Fig. 1 on the plane indicated by Fig. 8 is a section through part' of the construction shown in Fig. 1 on the'plane indicated by 8 8 Fig. 9 is a section throughpart of the showlng in Fig. 1 on the plane indicated by 9 9;

Fig. 10 is a section through part of the showing in Fig. 2 on the plane indicated by Ill-I0;

Fig. 11 is a section through part of the showing in Fig. 1 on the plane indicated by II I I;

Fig. 12 is a section through part of the showing in Fig. 1 on the plane indicatedby I2 I2;

Fig. 13 is a section through part of the showing in Fig. l on the broken plane indicated by I3 |3;

Fig. 14 is a section through part of the showing in Fig. 2 on the plane indicated by I4 I4;

Fig. 15 is a plan view of a circuit control mechanism employed in the machine of my invention;

Fig. 16 is a side View of the showing in Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is an end view of the showing in Fig. 15; and

Fig. 18 is a wiring diagram of the electric cir- Y cuits involved.

Referring to the drawings, carrier-I for the 2 objects to be packed (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) includes V-belt pulleys 2 and 3 horizontally oriented, carried respectively by vertical shafts 4 and 5. Pulleys 2 and 3 carry belt 6. Pulley 2 is an idler; shaft 4, by which it is carried, turns freely in bearing '1. Belt 6 is driven by pulley 3 through by reduction gear 8 (Figs. 1 and 3); reduction gear 8 is operated (Fig. 3)

I2 and drive pulley I4. Belt 6 is surrounded'v shaft 5 which is turned through driven pulley I I, belt I3 from main drive shaft by continuous guide rails I5, shown in cross-section in Fig. 4. An unbroken sequence of carriers I6 (Figs. 3 and 5) ride on guide rail I5. As shown' ln the enlarged detail in Figs 4 and 5, each carrier includes channel section I1 carrying (Fig. 5) pins I8 and I9 upon which rolls 2I and 22 turn. These rolls track in groove 23 formed in guide rail I5 (Fig. 4) thereby enabling the carrier to slide freely in a horizontal direction along the guide rail. Each carrier is provided with a leaf spring 24 which lightly engages belt 6 so that the car riers are releasably propelled along the guide rail by the motion of the belt. To maintain rubbing contact between belt 6 and springs 24 in the stretch between pulleys 2 and 3, angle rail stiffeners 25 and 2B are provided (Figs. 3 and 4) which maintain rubbing contact with the inside surface of belt 6 and hold it to a rectilinear path between the pulleys. Each channel section I1 of a carrier carries a cradle 21 pivotally attached to it by hinge 28. Cradle 21 is shaped to provide a rest or retainer for the objects to be packed so long as the cradle is supported in a horizontal position as shown in solid outline in Fig. 4, but if unsupported the cradle falls to the vertical position shown in dotted outline in Fig. 4, in'

which position it is inoperative as a retainer. The particular cradles illustrated in the figures are shaped to hold olives, although it will be obvious that by slight modifications they can be adapted to hold any small object to be packed in predetermined arrangement in a bottle or similar receptacle.

During most of their travel along guide rail I5. the cradles are dependent, but at the point 3l (Figs. 3 and 6) they are engaged by rail cam 32 which has returned them to horizontal position by the time they reach point 33.

In operation the carriers move past this point at the approximate rate of 3600 per hour. The olives are received in bulk and in the case of pimento olives are already pitted and stuffed. The operator manually places an olive in each cradle as it moves past, and in the case of pimento olives, they are placed in the cradles with the pimento ends facing the trailing edges of the carriers. The cradles are of paramagnetic material and up to the point 34 they are rigidly supported by rail cam 32. Beyond this point they runoff of the rail cam but are still held 4in 3 horizontal position by the permanent magnet 35. At the point 36 the lower edge of channel section I1 encounters pawl 31 (Figs. 2 and 9) and the carrier is temporarily stopped.

Rods 4| and 42 (Figs. l, 2, 3 and 7) are rigidly secured at their lower ends to plate 43, and at their upper ends to cross bar 44. Slider 45 is carried by rods 4I and 42. with horizontally projecting arm 45 which car` ries hollow plunger 41 connected IVatitslupper-` rIl`he slider iis integral' end to flexible hose 48 and at its lower end to descent of the suction cup forces cradle 21 out of the field of magnet thereby permitting the cradle to drop away from the object to `a vertical position and permitting plunger 41 to continue its descent. The plunger continues Aits descent until suction cup 49 arrives at the bottom of its stroke, at which point the suction is replaced by a slight plus pressure to separate theobject from cup 49 and deliver it at this exactpoint. Plunger 41 then returns to the position shown in solidoutline in Fig. l.

The Astopping of the carrier, reciprocation Vof the plunger, and alternation from vacuum to plus pressure on the suction cup, are all operated ,through jackshaft 5I (Figs. l, 2 and 3).vr The jack shaft is mounted in bearings 52 and 53 (Fig. l) and is releasably driven by friction clutch 54 which includes ilange 55 pinned to shaft 5I, friction disk 56 and ange 51 splined to sleeve 58, which sleeve is journalled on shaft 5 Sleeve 58 is pinned .to driven pulley 5 9 which in turn is driven through belt ,59 and drive pulley 6I by main drive shaft I4.

Plunger 41 (Figs. l, 2 and'l) is operated from jack shaft-5| as follows: Shaft 5I isy pinned to crank E2 which in turn operates pitman 63. The

actual Vpath traversed by free. end 64 of pitman 7 63 ispredetermned by arm B5, oneendof which is pivotally connected to end 84 of pitman V63 and The descent of theiplunger -l' the other end of which is carried .byA fixed pivot f point 66. ArmV 95 is relatively long sor that end u 64 of the pitman travels in an arc of considerable radius approximating rectilinear movement.- Pin G 'lrwhich connects end 54- with arm 65 also carries pivotallyM end 58 of pitman 69, the 'otherl end-1| of which reciprocates slider 45. As a result `of this con--l struction, the plunger 41 moves rapidly during descentandyascent, but more gradually when approaching the end of a stroke from either di-Y rection. j

Alternate suction and plus pressure at the suction cup 49 are controlled from jackshaft 5| as-follows (Figs. l, 2 and v8): Motor k12 `drives is pivotally `connected to and L;

impeller 13 ofcentrifugal blower 14to produce a negative Vpressure adjacent the axis of rotation anda positive pressure adjacent the periphery.

The'negative pressure is transmittedto point 15 throughv duct 16 and the positive pressure to point 11 through duct 18. Hoodv19 is connected to duct 8| and hose 48 and is pivotally supportedY atv l,

the axis KV82 so thatit can be flipped to register .y with the upper end of either duct 16 or duct 18,'. f.

thereby; applying either negative vor positive presf sure-to 1hose48 ,and through hose 48 Vto suction cup 49. For the purpose of flipping the hood,

the axis of duct 8| is connected through crank v 83 to push rod 84, which in turn is pivotally connected to walking beam 85, vone en dfof which is `pivotally secured at 86,while "the other end carries roller 81 which rides on cam 88 pinned to jack shaft 5|. Cam Y88 is shaped to maintain suctionv on hoseg48 during the descending stroke of plunger 41 reversing this to plus pressure at the bottom limit of the stroke.

lPawlv31 is operated from jack shaft 5| as follows' (Figs.1, 2, 3 and 9) Pawl 31 is integral with lever 9| pivotally carried at the point 92. Thisin turn is actuated by arm 93 pinned to shaft 94. The other end of shaft 94 is secured to hori` zontalf-arm 95 coupled through push'rod 9B rto roller 91 which rides on-cam 98 pinned to 'jack shaftf5l. walking beam 99, one end of which rides cam 98 and one-end of `which is pivotally secured at il the point IllIl.` Cam 98 is shaped to trip pawl 31 as'plunger- 41 approaches the top of its stroke," thereby permitting the unloaded carrier to move forward out of position and a loaded carrier' to move forward into position beneath the plunger,

at which point it is in turn stopped.

intermittently lowering thefbottle jto accommodate each succeeding-horizontal layer.

The bottles to be filled (Figs. 2 `and l0) "are brought to the machine on conveyor belt 19|' at spaced intervals. When an 'empty bottle in its forward movementencounters'the arcuate han'd |02, it is-stopped and fat the instant when the machine cycle starts, push rod |93 of' double acti ing air cylinder |04, actuated by asolenoid con; trolled air valve, moves forward to force ,the bottle onto platen orholder |65v provided with spring 15 clips |09 to hold the bottle'in'positiorn Platen |05 (Figs. 1 and 2) is Vmounted on shaft' |95 whichV is slidably and rotatably carriediin'bearings |91 and |98. Pulley I I is integral with sleeve I |2 rotatably and slidably carried by shaft |96. Flange I3 is splined to sleeve |I2 Pressure is maintained be-A tween pulley |I| Vand flange||3 by spring |I4,. .which pressure is transmitted through ange I |3 to frictiondisk I5.` The end'thrust Vof spring'. |I4 is taken up bylbearings A|91 and |18.. Pulley.

I I| is driven throughy-beltI |1 by drive pulley ne (Fig. 3) carried by main drive shaft I4. Thisv results in releasably turning `shaft |D.

IIQ is integralwithpollars |23 and |24 which carry projections |7251 and |26.

Sleeve |21 vis surrounded byy stationary 4.an-V

nular plateI28. Plate |28 carries adjacent the inner edge of its upper Surface the stationary annulus |29 and adjacent the inner'edge; of its lower surface the stationary annulus I3 I. Each of these is bored radially to form guides for a number of stops |32|55 (Figs. 1, 11;and 12). Each stop is .v controlled by one of the solenoids ISG-|19 so that when a particularsolenoid is energized, the stop moves radially inward to encounter the projec- Roller 91 is also pivotally secured'to Flange `|09 issplined to shaft |99.'Y

tion or one of the collars |23 and |24, thereby arresting the turning of shaft |06 and platen |05 at a selected angle of turn. To allow forstopping the turning of shaft |06 at the various points vwhich may be required in actualpractice, solenoid controlled stops are provided at the following angles with respect to the axis of shaft |06:

Owing to the diiclty of accommodating so many stops in'a single horizontal plane, half are mounted above and half below the annularv plate |28. Thus the following solenoid controlled stops at the following angles of turn (Fig. 11) are built Yinto the top layer:

Stop No. Angle of Turn v Angle of Turn Degrees Degrees NQGOJ KOCOOO The following solenoid controlled stops (Fig. 12) at the following angles of turn are built into the bottom layer:

Stop No. Angle o! Turn Stop No. Angle of Turn Degrees Degrees 'I'he vertical position of shaft |06 and platen |05 is controlled (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 13) through air cylinder (actuated by a solenoid controlled air valve) as follows: the lower end of shaft |06 is pinned (Fig. 1) to the inner race of ball bearing I8 the outer race of which is xed in retainer ring |82 which in turn is pivotally connected to yoke |83 (Fig. 12)integral with lever |84 pinned to horizontal shaft |85. Shaft |85 is in turn pinned to the upraised arm |86 which terminates -at its upper end in slot. 81 (Fig. 2) carried by' pin |88 in cross head |89 on the end of piston rod |90 of air cylinder |80.

As is evident from the foregoing the horizontal movement of piston rod |90 operates to raise or lower shaft |06 and platen |05 carried thereby. Piston rod |90 also carries (Fig. 12) rack |9| adapted to move with and parallel to the pistonv rod in channel |92. The rack meshes with pinion |90 rwill be moved through a distance predetermined by the gear train, and shaft |06 and t ever a particular layer has been completed in.

vorder to accommodate the next succeeding layer, platen |05 is lowered intermittently during the .packing operation. When the packing operation is completed, the platen is lowered to the bottom of its stroke. This brings the bottom of the packed bottle level with conveyor belt 202 (Figs. 1 and 14) at which point it is engaged by hand .203 -intergal with piston rod 204 of double acting air cylinder 205 by which it is pushed from platen |05 onto conveyor belt 202, Awhich carries it from the machine for sealing, labeling and packaging.

The following relates to the electrical control by which the mechanical sequence of operations is predetermined and which control may be manually plie-set to determine the particular operating condition desired.

The bellows 2|| (Figs. 1 and 3) is carried by and opens into duct 8| which carries hood 19. As previously described hood 19 is equipped to register with the upper end of either duct 16 or 18. Duct 18 normally carries a negative pressure to provide the necessary suction for suction cup 49 and duct 18 provides the positive pressure necessary to separate the object carried from suction cup. Positive and negative pressure are therefor alternately impressed upon bellows 2| Bellows 2|| (Fig. 1) through push rod 2|2 normallyv exerts pressure'on leaf spring 2|3 to close the contacts of microswitch 2|4. Whenever vacuum is impressed on bellows 2|I, push rod 2|2 is withdrawn, thereby opening the circuit through microswitch 2 |4- which is again closed by the next succeeding pressure pulse. In casethe operator has omitted to place an olive in the cradle immediately beneath suction cup 49, orV for any other reason a loaded carrier is not in position, the necessary suction will not build up in duct 8| and the circuit 'through microswitch 2|4 will not be interrupted. The electrical circuit through microswitch 2| 4 controls the sequence of operations involved in turning and lowering the bottle and since bellows 2|| is not actuated unless an object is actually engaged bythe suction cup, this insures that the turning and lowering of the bottle will at no time be out of step with the actual number of objects engaged by the cup and discharged at the xed point in space surrounded by the bottle. Each contraction of the bellows 2|| (Fig. 18) and subsequent expansion transmits a new pulse from positive 2|5 of battery 2|6 or equivalent source of energy through microswitch 2|4 into conductor 2|1, Athereby causing current to ow through Ysolenoid 2|8 controlling the point 6 pole stepping relay 2| 9. Each time the solenoid 2|8 is energized the rovingcontact in each of the six banks of contacts in steppingrelay 2|9 moves forward one step' to 'the Vnext ysucceeding output posi-l tion. By means of manually controlled switch 220, I am able to select` the roving contact in .Y

met?, se.

anyone ofthe rst ve lbanks '2`2lf-225jand ene'rgize it by connecting' it`y through conductor 226 to: the positive 2 |5 of battery 216.

If it is desired to pack the 1olives two rto a layer, the manually controlled switch 220 is turned 4to engage the roving contact 'of' 'bank 22| which is initially in contact with' stop |32 at and moves seo1uentia"-lly to the Iposts which are'inN electrical' connection 4'with the following solenoid Acontrolled detents:

v Detent Not Angle oikTurn v Detent No. 'angle of'T'um Degrees Denn-ees 211, n. Y.eo '90 270 180 and repeat.

' 'Thisp'rovides for a minimum angular turning i l Detent No. .Angle of Turn Detent'No. ,Angle o T um Degrees Degrees -120- :The foregoing .provides for' the minimurnangular turning of Shaft '|06 compatible with spacing the olives three to a layer and with a' 60 shift in .position of the olives in each succeeding' layer to permita rnaxinnini closeness of packing.

' .If it were desired to pack th'e'i olives lou'r to .a layer, the manually controlled Switch 220 turned to .engage the roving' contact o'fbank 223 which is initiauy in Contact with stop' '132l .at 0' and maires Contact sequentially with the following' .solenoid vcontrolled detents:

M Detent No.V v .Angle of Turn Y Detent No. Angle of Turn Degrees Degrees 90 l 270 180 `v0 270 Y 90 315 '135 45 .225 ,135 315 l225 45 270A 90 l 0 1 ..180 90 270 .180 0 225 .45 315` `45 .225 135 .315 j .If it yis desired to pack the Aolives.live to "a" layer, the'manuaiiy controlled switcih'zzu is turneqto engage Ythe roving Contact of bank 224 jvhicli 1S. initially @brita-Ct WitlfS/toi)y |32 t U fhaks' contact `sequentially with the `followingsolenoid controlled detents:

Detent No. Angle ofTurn Detent No. Angle of Turn 'Degrees Degrees v72 .252 144 324 216 36 288 10S 324 144 336 210 108 28S 180 0 252 72 288 108 0 180 72 252 144 324 216 36 252 72 324 144 336 210 108 288 180 0 216 36 288 108 0 180 12 f ,252 -144 324 180 If itis desired 'to pack vthe olives six to vafvlayel.. the manually controlled switch 220 is turnedto engage the roving contact of bank 225 which is 'initi'allyin contact'with s't'op |32 'at 0 an'dmakes contact sequentially with the' 'following solenoid controlled detents:

` Detent No. 'y Angle of Turn y Detent No. Angle o'f 'liirn Degrees and repeat.

' ^The"san1e vpulse"controlledby microswitch '2N moving throughconductors 2H and 230 through solenoid 211| advances allroving contacts of the five pole' 60 point 'stepping' relay 232 designed'for momentarycontacts only. kEach of theseroving contacts isfc'onnected' through conductor 233- to positive 2|5,r Each bank of contacts is designed for a vrpredetermined number of lolives per *layer fori-Jolie purpose of momentarily actuating 1 armature |99 -(Figs. 1, 3, 13 and y18) of solenoid A20|, therebyfperinitting rack'l |9| Vand-piston rod |90 to moveY the distance 'required f(opera-ting elementsl, -,I85"and |84 to lowershaft |06) to movejp1aten |05 'and the .bottle carried :thereby 75 downwardly the "requirededistance tofaccom'modate the next succeeding layer to be packed. Inasmuch as this sequence is also determined by the number of olives introduced, it is controlled by arm 234 of manually controlled switch 220 which connects with selected fixed stops in any bank of contacts in this relay. Thus, in case it is desired to pack two olives per layer, arm 234 places the conductor 236 connected to solenoid 20| in electrical connection with certain fixed -stops of bank 231. In this bank the odd contacts are dead but the even contacts are live and on completion of each even contact (predetermined -by the fact that an even number of olives completes a layer), the roving contact of the bank y energizes solenoid 20|, thereby causing platen |05 and the bottle being packed to belowered a predetermined distance equal to the space occupied by a single layer.

If it is desired to pack the olives three to a layer, the arm 234 of switch 220 makes contact with the xed posts of bank 24|. In this case every third post only of bank 24| is live, so that Whenever a layer consisting of three olives has been completed, the roving contact of this bank momentarily actuates solenoid 20|, thereby permitting platen and the jar carried thereon to move downwardly a distance equal to the thickness occupied by a particular layer. v i

The control in case it is determined to pack the olives four, five or six to a layer, will be similarly evident from the diagrammatic showing in Fig. 18. Thus in case the olives arepacked four to a layer, every fourth post of bank 243 is live; five to a layer, every fifth post of bank 245; and six to a layer, every sixth post of bank 241.

Referring again' to the stepping relay 2I9 a bank of contacts 25| controls the number of olives to be packed per jar. contact is connected to positive 2|5 vof battery 2|6 while any xed post may be selected by arm 253 of manually'controlled switch 254, which arm is connected through conductor `255 to solenoid 256 controlling relay 251. It is therefore obvious from the foregoing that if arm 253 had been manually turned to the fixed contact corresponding to the number of olives which it is desired to introduce in ajar, upon completion of that number relay 251 will be energized.

This relay is operated in cooperation with the circuit control mechanism diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 1 and detailed in Figs. 15-1'1. As detailed, this includes shaft 258 carriedv in bear-v ings 259 and 260. Pulley 26| is rotatably mounted on the shaft and is splined to the sleeve 252 which is also rotatably mounted on the shaft and pinned to'ange 263. Spring 264 exerts a uniform pressure on ange 263 and thus on the friction disk 265 interposed between flange 263 and flange 263, which is pinned to shaft 258. Pulley 26| is driven through belt 261 (Figs. 1, 3) from main drive shaft In this 'case the roving 'l0 a complete turn, operating in sequence the electrical circuits controlled by microswitches 28|281.

The energization of relay 251 closes contacts 29| and 292 and opens contacts 293. The opening of contacts 293 disconnects conductor 294 from positive 2|5, releasing armature 295 of solenoid 295 (normally inoperative) thereby permitting it under pressure of spring 231 to engage the projection 298 on the end of crank 62, thereby immobilizing jack shaft 5| and arresting operation of the controls actuated by this jack shaft, i. e., plunger 41, the carrier release, and negative and positive pressure control on suction cup 49. Closing of contacts 292 energizes solenoid 302 of relay 303, thereby breaking contacts 304 and making contacts 305. Breaking contacts 304 disconnects one arm of switch 220 from positivek 2|5, thereby killing the roving fingers of banks 22|-225 and 25|. The making of contacts 305 energizes the zero post of banks 22H-225, thereby operating detent |32 controlling the zero degrees position of collar |23 and restoring shaft |03 and platen |05 to the position from which the turning movements of the platen are started. The closing of contacts 292 operates re-set'relays 305 and 301. Re-set relay 306 of stepping relay 2|9 turns the roving fingers of banks 22|-225 and 25| to zero position and re-set relay 301 of stepping relay 232 turns the roving ngers of banks 231, 24|, 243, 245 .and 241 to zero position. This would of course de-energize solenoid 256 except for the fact that making contacts 29| provides an alternative holding circuit through conductor 308 I4. This releasably drives the shaft 258 which,

however, is normally restrained from turning byv projection 21| carried by flange 266 in engagement with armature 212 of solenoid 213. Shaft 258 carries cams 214, 215, 216, 211, 218, 219 and 280 so formed and set in relation to the shaft that when the shaft turns, the contacts of microswitches 28|, 282, 283, 284, 285, 285 and `281 are operated inthe sequence enumerated.

Projection 21| is normally immobilized by armature 212 of solenoid 213. When, however, the solenoid is momentarily energized and the armature withdrawn, projection 21| is momentarily released. with the result. that @han one ...M1-A- and normally closed contacts 35| 281. The making of contacts 292 throughkconductor 31| also energizes solenoid 213, thereby retractingarmature 212 and holding projection 21| and permitting shaft 258 to turn. The turning, of shaft 258performs in sequence the following operations:

Y (a) Contacts 3|2 of microswitch 28| are closed when shaft 258 is in position with projection 21| bearing against armature 212 of solenoid 213, thereby energizing conductor 315 and solenoid 3 6 of air valve 3 1 to urge -'platen |05 downwardly vandalso energizing conductor 3 8 feeding solenoid 319 of air valve 320to move push rod |03 in the direction indicated by arrow 33|. This contact is` broken bythe turning of shaft 258 butis held for suiiicient angle to enable it to break simultzin'eously with the nextsucceeding contact.

, j(b Contact 325 of microswitch 282 normally open is closed, thereby energizing conductors 326 f,

and 236 feeding solenoid 20| to withdraw stop |99 and permit the lowering of platen- |05 to the extreme bottom of its stroke.

(c) It closes contacts 321 of microswitch 283,

thereby energizing conductor 328 to actuate sole-- noid 329 of air valve 330 to move push rodf'204I inthe direction indicated by arrow 33| (Fig. 14) tov transfer the packed bottle to conveyor 202.-

(d) It-makes contacts 34| of .microswitch 284 thereby energizing conductorl342 to yactuate solenoid :343 of airvalve 330 to move push rod '204 in the direction indicated by arrow 32|.

(e) It makes contacts 348. of microswitch285 l to energize conductor 349 t0 actuate solenoid 350 of air'v valve 3|1 tomove during`vv the upward most, i. e., 'to the loading position.

(f) It makescontacts 35| of microswitch 286 of microswitchplaten |05 upwardly. Armature |99 is hinged to freeprojection |98 movement ofthe platen sof-, that this contact restores the platen tov its topnoid 353 of air valve 32a] to move piston |03 of air lowering a bottle so held, a number of arrestors cylinder |34 in the direction indicated by fare @fsefor arresting such turning at predetermined anrow 32|, thereby transferring an empty bottle from conveyor onto platen |05.

(g') It breaks contacts 36| of microswitch 231 4thereby killing conductor 308 in' theholding'circuit of relay 251 releasing solenoid S opening 'contacts 23|V and 292 Yand closing contacts 293.

Opening contacts 292 Vkills solenoid 302 of relay V303 thereby transferring Control of relays 2 I9 and 232 back to manual switch 22D. Closing contact 293 energizes conductor 294 thereby withdrawing armature 295 holding stopV 298 and permitting jack shaft 5| to turn. As the projection 21 I again comes into contact witharmature 212, contacts 3|'2 of'inicroswitch 28| again close thereby ener-- 'gizing conductor 3|5 and solenoid 3| 6 of air valve 2 I 1 to urge platen |05 downwardly and conandwill continue through the methodsteps here;

inabove'described.

' `rIe foregoing specific description isfor purposesof illustration and not 4of liinitationand it is therefore my'intention that the invention bev limited yonly by the appended claims or their equivalents wherein I lhaveendeavored to claim broadlyall inherent novelty. Iclaim: 1. Av bottle packer comprising means for delivf ering an object to b e packed atfa ilXed point in space,-V meansfor holding `a bottle surrounding saidpoin't, means for turning a bottleso helda number of solenoid controlledairestors for. rarfr'esting' such :turning 'at 'pred`etermined anglesof turn,VV an electric pulse generator coupled. to said means "for deliyeringfa'pillage-'operated electric controller inmserieswith saidfelectric pulse gen;- erator adapted to release..one solenoid` controlled arrestor'and energizing as ucceeding solenoid controlled arrestor. Q 2f A bottlepacker comprisingY means jfor, delivf ering an object to be packedatanxed pointin space, means for v holding -a bottle" surrounding said point, means for turninga bottleso held, a number of solenoid controlled arrestors for areV resting such turning at predeterminedangles of turn',k Yan electric pulsegeneratorcoupled to said;v means for deliveringl a number of pulse-operated electric contrclleraeach adapted 'to release oneY solenoid controlled' arrestor l and energiae a su A ceedingf solenoidAcontrolled arrestor; in a,. pr ede terinined sequence and ani switch adapted to 4se lec ;ively` place pA ,ticular' electricl controller' Vin` series Wi'thfsaid Dil1$e. geI} @ratonn l 31, A bottle packer comprising ering -an object Vto' be packed at jaJ Xdlqiip space, means for holding a bottle "surrounding said point, means for turning and means for louering a'fbottle so held, solenoid `contrmled arrester" for arresting such lowering at predeterf.

minedlevelsan electric pulse generator r coupled to saidmeansj `vfor delivering, a pulse-operated electri'ei"controllery in series' witnsaid electricI pulse''iger'iera'tr adapted te release saidsolenoid.. controlled arresten and reset `.sameM for:` a. lower predetermined level in,l response to a predeter-f mined Yuinljer'o'f pulses,

gles of turn, means operatively coupled to said means for. delivering` sequentially.' releasingaione arrestor-and energzinga .succeeding arrestor, an arrestor for arrestingvsuchlowering atpred'e- Atermined levels and means. operatively :coupled to said meansl for delivering controlling sai'dlast mentioned arrestor... r A bottle packer comprising means for delivering an. object to Ybe packed at aixed point fof space, means vfor holding a bottle surrounding said point, means for turning and means for lowering abottle so held, at least .one electric" pulse generator coupled tosaid means for delivering,

Aa vnumber of solenoidcontrolled arrestor for arresting such turning atpredetermined' angles of turn, .z a pulseoperated electric. .controller in series withl such an electric'pulse-generator adapted to releaseone solenoid controlled'arrestor-and energize a succeeding solenoid controlled arrestor, a solenoid controlled arrestor for arresting saidlowering atpredetermined levels, a sec-l ond pulse-operated'electric controller in series withsuch a pulse generator adapted torelease said arrestor for arresting such lowering and re- "set samefor a lower predetermined level in Iresponse to a predetermined number of pulses. f

lowering at predetermined levels, lal pulse-open' ated electric Controllern-in series with such a pulse generator .adapted` toarrest such'lowering and re-set same for a lower predetermined level in responsev ,to4 a predetermined number of pulses,

solenoid `controlled means Yfor removing abottler vso. held, @pulse-operated electric controller in series with such. a pulse generatoradaptedto actuate Asaid last mentioned means on receipt or"` a predeterminednumber of pulses.

7. A bottle vpacker comprising a carrier, means for intermittently advancing -saidfoarrier over a predetermined-path, a series of retainers in said carrier, each adaptedto hold an object to Vbe packed,a suctionl cup, `a plunger carrying such suction cup; means for holding a .bottle to bel packed, means for reciprocating said plunger to-v projectsaidsuction cup intoAL contact withv an ob"- jectheld .in one of said .retainer-s, and lto'project said suction cup-A within1aV bottle.; so lhelcljmeans for. turning and means. -for inter ing a bottle so held.

8. 'A bott-lek packergcornprising mittently lowera carrier, means forintermittently. advancing. said carrierzover a.- predetermined path, a series of retainers in said carrier, eachfadaptedtohold an object to be packed, a .suctioncup, a. plunger Acarrying such" suction cup,- means' for holding a'bottle to be means fordel-i'v-Q 'Ollio be nackedjatajnxed point. in

` packed, means forr-eciprocating said plunger to project said suction cup into contact withan objecteheld in oneof said retaineraand to project said suctiongcup within a bottle `so held,v means for lintermittently turning and means Vfor intermitf tently lowering abottle so held.

9. A bottle packerV `according 'toy c is vinclined at; an angle to the axis of a bottle so l., held terminating its reciprocation` with said suce t the inner sidewallfof. s'ucli' laim' 8f -in which the means-for reciprocatingfsaid plunger" 10. A bottle packer comprising a carrier, means forintermittently advancing said carrier over a predetermined path, a series of retainers in said carrier, each adapted to hold an object to be packed, a suction cup, a plunger carrying said suction cup,`means for holding a bottle, means `for reciprocating said plunger to project said said suction cup into contact with an object held in one of said retainers, and to project said suction cup Within a bottle so held, means for turning a bottle so'held, a number of solenoid controlled arrestors for arresting such turning at predetermined angles of turn, an electric pulse generator operated by said plunger, a pulse-operated electric controller in series with said electric pulse generator adapted to release one solenoid controlled arrestor and energizing a succeeding solenoid controlled arrestor.

11. A lbottle packer according to claim 10 comrprising in addition means for applying a vacuum to said suction cup and means operated by said v-acuum controlling said pulse generator whereby failure of said cup to engage an object produces a pulse skip.

12. A bottle packer according to claim 10 in which the' means for reciprocating said plunger is inclined' at an angle to the axis of a bottle so held terminating its reciprocation with said suc tion cup adjacent the inner side wall vof such bottle.

13. A bottle packer comprising a carrier, means for intermittently advancing said carrier over ay predetermined path, a series of retainers in said carrier. each adapted to hold an object to be packed, a suction cup, a plunger carrying said suction cup, means for holding a bottle, means for reciprocating Vsaid plunger to projectsaid suction cup into contact with an object held in one of said retainers and to project said suction cup withina bottle so held, means for turning a bottle so held, a number of solenoid controlled arrestors for arresting such V`turning at predetermined -angles of turn, an electric pulse generator operated by said plunger, a number of pulseoperated electric controllers, each adapted to release one'of said solenoid controlled arrestors and energize a succeeding solenoid controlled arrestor in a predetermined sequence, and a manually controlled switch adapted to place a particular electric `controller in series with said pulse generator.

14. A bottle packer according to claim 13 comprising in addition means for applying a vacuum to said suction cup and means operated by said vacuum controlling said pulse generator whereby failure of said cup to engage an object produces a pulse skip.

15. A bottle packer according to claim 13 in which the means for reciprocating said plunger is inclined at an angle to the axis of a bottle so held terminating its reciprocation with said suction cup adjacent the inner side wall of such bottle.

16. A bottle packer comprising a carrier, means for intermittently advancing said carrier over a predetermined path, a series of retainers in said carrier, each adapted to hold an object to be packed, a suction cup, a plunger carrying such suction cup, means for holding a bottle, means for reciprocating said plunger to project said suction cup into contact with an object held in one of said retainers and to project said suction cup Within a bottle so held, means for turning and means for lowering a bottle so held, an arrestor for arresting such lowering at predetermined levels and means operatively coupled to said plunger controlling said arrestor.

17.- A bottle packer according to claim 16 in which the means for reciprocating said plunger is inclined at an angle to the axis of a bottle so held 4terminating its reciprocation with said suction cup adjacent the inner side wall of such bottle.

18. A bottle packer comprising a carrier, means for intermittently advancing said carrier over a predetermined path, a series of retainers in said carrier, each adapted to hold an object to be packed, a suction cup, a plunger carrying such suction cup, means for holding a bottle, means -forreciprocating said plunger to project said sucprising in addition means for applying a vacuum to said suction cup and means operated by said vacuum controlling said pulse generator whereby failure of said cup to engage an object produces a pulse skip.

' 20. A bottle packer according to claim 18 in which the means for reciprocating said plunger is 'inclined at an angle to the axis of a bottle so held terminating its recip-rocation with said suction cup adjacent the inner side Wall of such bottle.

21. A bottle packer comprising a carrier, means fonintermittently advancing said carrier over a predetermined path, a series of retainers in said carrier, each adapted to hold an object to be packed, a suction cup, a plunger carrying such suction cup, means 4for moving said plunger to and from a position in which said cup overlays one of said retainers, means for holding a bottle, means for reciprocating said plunger to project said suction cup into contact with an object held in one of said retainers and to project said suction cup within a bottle so held, means for turning and means for lowering a bottle so held, a solenoid controlled arrestor for arresting such lowering at predetermined levels, an electric pulse operated by said plunger, a number of pulse-operated electric controllers, each adapted to release said means for arresting and re-set same for a lower predetermined level in response to a predetermined number of pulsesand a manually controlled switch adapted to selectively place a particular electric controller in series with said pulse generator.

' 22. A bottle packer according to claim 21 comprising in addition means for applying a vacuum to said suction cup and means operated by said vacuum controlling said pulse generator whereby failure of said cupto engage an object produces a pulse skip.

'2.223. A bottle packer accordingto claim 21 in which the means for reciprocating said plunger is inclined at an angle to the axis of a bottle so held terminating its reciprocation with said suction cup adjacent the inner side Wall of such bottle.

"124. A bottle packer comprising a carrier, means for intermittently advancing said carrier over a predetermined path, a series of retainers in said carrier, each adapted to hold an object to be packed. a suction cup, a plunger carrying such one of said-retainers'maii's frfholdilng a bgttle means for reciprlat'rigV saidgplunlgerswto project said suction 'cui into cntact with an object held in one ofsaidretainers 'and'to project said suction cup within"abottlsoheld, means for turning and means for lowering'a bottle'soheld, a number of arrestors 'forarresting such Vturning at predeter- 'minedangles of. turn, means operated bysaid 'plunger sequentially releasing one arrester and "energizing a succeeding arrestor, an1 arrestor for a'rresting'such lowering at Vpredetermined levels and means operated by said plunger controlling` 'said last mentionedmeans f cr arresting.

' 25;Y A bottle packer comprising a carrier, means for intermittently ac'lvafncingI said carrier overa predetermined path, a series of retainers insaid carrier; each adapted to hold an o bject to be packed; a suction cup,` a' plunger carryingsuch suction cup, means for holding a Abot tle, rneans reciprocating said plunger `to` project said suctioncup into contactwith an object heldwinone of 'said retainers Yand to project said suction cup withina bottle soY held, means for-turning and meansfo'r lowering a bottle scheld, at leastcne electric pulse generatorv operated by said plunger, a number o'f solenoid controlled arrestors for arresting such" turning at predetermined angles of turn, 'a pulse-operated electric controller innseries withsuch' an electric pulse generator'adaptedrto releaseI one solenoid controlled arrestor and energize a succeeding solenoid controlled arrester, a"so"'lenoilA 'contrlled arrester for arresting such lowering atpred'teriiied levels, a st acondpulse'- operated electriccontroller `in series withjsuch a pulse generator adaptedto release said last'menftine'd'sOlenid` cnt'relled arrestor and regpset same for a lower predetermined level in response to"a"predetermined number of vpulses. 26T A bottlepacker.. according to claim 25 comprisingin"additi'onmeansfor -applying a vacuum to said suction c'up 'and means" operated by said vacuum controlling said pulse generator whereby failur'e of "said cup 'to' engage an r cbj ect produces apuls'efskip.v

j2'7. `A bottle packer comprising a carrier, means 16 for intermittently advancing said carrier over a ,predeterminedpatn a .series of retainers l,insaid carrier, V,each adapted ,l to.. hold 1an vobj ect to'l ybe packed, ,a suction cup, a .plunger carrying Asuch suction cup, means. forvmoving said plunger to and froma position. in whichsaid cup overlays one of said retainers, means for holding a bottle, means for reciprocating said plunger .to-project said suctioncup into contact Withan object-held in one of said retainers and to project said suction cup within a bottle so held, means for turning and means for lowering a bottle so held, at least one electric pulse generator operated bysaid plunger, a solenoid controlled arrestor forarresting such lowering at predetermined levels, a pulse-.operated electric. controller in `series with such pulse generator adapted to arrest such lowering and reset same for a lower predetermined levelin response to `a predetermined number lof pulses, solenoid controlled means for removing a bottle so held and apulse-operated electric controller in series with such pulse generator adapted to actuate said last mentioned means on receipt o f a predetermined number of pulses.

28. A bottle packer according'to claim 27 prising in addition means for applying a vacuum to said suction cup and means operated byl said vacuum controlling said pulse generator whereby failureof said cupv to engage an obj'ect'p'roduces apulseskip. y 'i 29. A bottle packer according to claim 27 in which the means for reciprocating said plunger is inclined at an angle tothe'axis cfv a bottle so held terminating f ,itsA reciprocation with said suction cup adjacent the innersideV "wallof "such'bottle' REFERENQESQQIWD, The following references are ,of record in the leof this patent:VV UNITED STATES PATENTS f 

